moved to the top of an ancient pyramid, in which
tombs have been opened, and bones and gold ornaments found. The
professor dashed through all the tunnels, with the government after
him, before mounting to the top. On top a strange conversation was held
between the professor and the president and secretary. They appealed to
this northern man, who seemed to have all earthly authority back of him,
to grant them one longed-for boon. Would he not please speak, when he
returned to the capital, to the minister of encouragement, that he send
them a brass band! They wanted to welcome northern visitors to the ruins
with modern music.

"You have great power. You need but to ask of those in Mexico and the
band will come. Most beloved friend, oh, most excellent professor from
the far north, give to us a brass band!" And the professor promised to
speak to Minister Leal about it. Then, too, the beastly state government
was dragging some of their precious ruins away to put in a museum. Would
the professor please have the kindness to stop this? The professor
promised to do what he could, and he was hugged and blessed and patted
by the simple people.

Prof. Starr began his ethnological studies to westward of Oaxaca. Mitla
is eastward. In the west, he visited two tribes--the Mixtecas and the
Triquis. The latter are a branch of the former, but much different,
living in round bamboo huts, surprisingly like those of some African
tribes. He secured two excellent casts of the Triquis, and three of the
Mixtecas. He intended to take five of each tribe he visited, but his
plaster failed to arrive. He studies the languages, also, as he goes,
and finds many varying dialects, from each of which he secures a
test vocabulary of 200 words. He is now approaching the Mixes, the
"cannibals." All the City of Mexico papers laugh at the idea of his
encountering the slightest danger, and the professor himself scoffs at
it. He believes some of the Mixes have, within forty years, eaten human
flesh, but he says he is certain they are harmless now.

CHARLES F. EMBREE. [From _The Chicago Record_: March 24, 1899.]

THE PURPLE SPOT ON MAYA BABIES

When I was in Yucatan in 1901 the parish priest of Texax told me that it
was said that every pure blood Maya Indian has a violet or purple spot
on his back, in the sacral region. He stated that this spot was called
by the native name, uits, "bread," and that it was vulgar or insulting
to make reference to it.